Boys Room (Huge Paint by number painting)

 After almost a year I'm back in the boys room.  I don't say that with a guilt trip tone to myself at all, that's is just how I roll these days. The older I get the more I understand my style as far a work, design and in life. Though I love the idea of being one of those perfectly DONE people, (that starts a project and gets it done in the right time frame), I'm just not.  I'm creative, I start one thing and I'm thinking of another. Not to say being creative doesn't have it's costs, nothing in life is free and I'm not talking about money, well maybe in some cases;)

Anyways....welcome to my boys room.  I got my huge paint by number painting framed up. And the ball just started rolling from there.  When I first had William I was not a fan of primary colors as far as kid stuff.  Seemed like every kid toy, piece of furniture had primary colors.  I get it, they need to learn their colors but all of them together drove me nuts as far as design.... So I find it funny that in the boys big boy room I have a lot of primary colors going on, but I think I muted them enough with neutrals to live with them.

I really don't have a plan when it comes to kids room.  I don't want  people or my boys to walk in and see a pottery barn catalog but feel some soul.  And I think that's why it takes a long time to get a room DONE....I'm not satisfied with surface, I want some meaning.

I love bringing the outside in with plants and landscape paintings.  A lot of my paintings around my house are landscapes and are nice little windows on warmth during the winter months....  For the boys room I wanted something really bold and I love the retro paint by number style. So I looked up a bunch of paint by number paintings and literally just started copying one from looking at my computer to painting on the canvas. I hand a big piece of canvas cloth that I hung on the wall.  I wasn't too exact in coping it and  put a lot of my own style and changed some of the colors..........It was like I just systematically put blobs of paint in the right place to create a scenery.

I added some blank paint by number slots for a fun effect.....  William always says "mom you need to finish it." I tell him that's the way it's supposed to be....And really how many of these half done paint by number paintings have you seen at the thrift stores?....I'm glad I'm not the only one!    No I really liked the modern/technical edge the slots and numbers give to such a vintage style painting.....

 In picking the frame color I could have gone with a safe stained wood color.  But as the room was coming together red seemed like the right accent color.....

I love how this painting as a good balance of brightness and neutrals....I looked at this painting a lot as I accessorized this space....

I have some browns and grays.  Black and white with pops of color....

 I left the windows bare-wood, the boys toy bin/ and the coat rack below.

 This coat rack was one of my first projects (like 3 years ago) when I didn't have a clue what direction I was going in this room.  I love that it says northwood living in Iowa and has little pine trees logos.  Who would have thought 3 years later, I would paint a painting with pine trees in it and pick green and white striped comforters.  It somehow works and to me it's like magic!

Scotty had this Royals score book stored away..  The colors are perfect and tie in with a vintage feel.....

 I find so many deals at thrift stores.... you really can live on a budget and have a great space, but it does take time to find these deals....  In a picture  above I found those brass reading lamps for $1.50 each and last week I found this great royal blue trunk for $5 bucks. Don't underestimate your local thrift store.  The deals you can get really don't add up:)!

I  can't tell you whats next on my list, we are preparing for the winter and been working outside.

 We are still conquering the fist level and I'm great with that. I don't think we will ever be DONE, it's more like we are shooting for a stopping point.

 Looking forward to some of my winter indoor projects!

Have a great week, GO ROYALS!!